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Trump's "I'm With You" Campaign Tee Is Symbolic

by Morgan Brinlee

She wants you to be with her. He wants you to know he's with you. It's all getting a little confusing. In what I can only guess was an effort to turn the tables on the competition, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is attempting a hostile takeover of Hillary Clinton's campaign slogan. Trump began selling "I'm with you" T-shirts Wednesday, after first using the phrase earlier in the day while ripping on Clinton's "I'm with her" slogan during a speech in New York City.

"She believes she's entitled to the office," Trump said. "Her campaign slogan is 'I'm with her.' You know what my response is to that? I'm with you, the American people. She thinks it's all about her. I know it's all about you. I know it's all about making America great again for all Americans."

Not one to go down without a fight, Clinton mocked Trump's new slogan with a bit of suggested fine print on Twitter. "You,*" she tweeted, before continuing with "*offer not valid for Muslims, women, Latinos, African Americans, LGBT Americans, middle-class families..." in an attempt to highlight groups whom Trump has previously targeted and/or belittled. Trump has repeatedly called for profiling Muslim Americans and banning Muslims from entering the United States, he has insinuated that Mexican immigrants are all rapists, and has said he'd "strongly consider" appointing Supreme Court justices who'd overturn the legalization of same-sex marriage, among his more controversial statements.

But Clinton's criticisms aside, Trump is sticking by his new slogan. The real estate mogul and reality TV personality quickly began using the phrase as a hashtag on Twitter to push its popularity. And before too long, shirts reminiscent of the famed Uncle Sam posters appeared online. The slogan "I'm with you" is printed beneath a portrait of a pointing Trump. For $35, you can buy "the softest, smoothest, best-looking short sleeve tee shirt available" (that's a direct quote from Trump's website) to let everyone know you're with him while he's with you. In comparison, an "I'm with her" shirt from Clinton's official campaign store costs $30.

It doesn't help that while Trump zeros in on Clinton's slogan, the presumptive Democratic nominee has been hitting her Republican rival where it hurts, challenging him over his statements on foreign policy, climate control, nuclear weapons, disabled people, women... the list goes on.

Trump's "I'm with you" shirt seems to perfectly encapsulate much of the childish back-and-forth plaguing this election. From Trump's continued name-calling to Clinton's snarky "delete your account" tweet, the election sometimes feels like it's taking place on the playground rather than the campaign trail.

Images: Donald J. Trump official website